Technical Director

Technical Director – Precision Engineering & CNC Manufacturing

Location: Devon
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Are you an accomplished CNC and manufacturing engineering professional ready to take the technical lead within an ambitious precision engineering business?

We are recruiting an experienced Technical Director to lead the continued development of our client’s engineering, CNC machining, CAD/CAM and manufacturing capabilities.

This is a senior, highly influential position combining strategic leadership with practical, hands-on engineering. You will help shape the future technical direction of the business while remaining close to the shop floor—solving complex machining challenges, improving manufacturing performance and developing a highly capable engineering team.

The opportunity

As Technical Director, you will become the senior technical authority across the business. You will take ownership of engineering standards, CNC programming, CAD/CAM development, manufacturing methods and technical improvement.

Working closely with the Managing Director, production teams, customers and suppliers, you will ensure engineering solutions are technically robust, repeatable and commercially viable.

This position would suit someone who has progressed through a practical CNC machining or manufacturing engineering background into technical leadership but still enjoys getting involved in complex programming and machining challenges.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across engineering and manufacturing.
• Lead the development of the company’s CNC machining and CAD/CAM capabilities.
• Produce, review and optimise complex CNC programs.
• Support programming across Heidenhain, Fanuc and Mazatrol controls.
• Develop machining strategies for complex components, including 3-, 4- and 5-axis work.
• Improve cycle times, machine utilisation, tool life and surface finish.
• Troubleshoot CNC programs and manufacturing issues directly at the machine when required.
• Develop tooling, workholding, datum and machining strategies.
• Lead root-cause investigations into quality, process and production issues.
• Oversee the technical aspects of new product introduction.
• Review customer drawings, CAD models and technical specifications.
• Assess the manufacturability and commercial viability of new work.
• Support the introduction of new machinery, tooling and manufacturing technology.
• Reduce scrap, rework and non-value-added activity.
• Establish consistent programming and manufacturing standards.
• Identify commercially justified opportunities for automation.
• Lead, mentor and develop engineers and CNC programming personnel.
• Act as a senior technical contact for customers and suppliers.
• Provide technical input into quotations and new business opportunities.

What we’re looking for

You will need:

• Significant experience within CNC machining and manufacturing engineering.
• Advanced knowledge of CAD/CAM software—Edgecam experience would be advantageous.
• Strong hands-on CNC programming experience.
• Proven knowledge of Heidenhain, Fanuc and Mazatrol controls.
• A strong understanding of CNC milling and multi-axis machining.
• Experience interpreting complex engineering drawings and 3D CAD models.
• Knowledge of GD&T, engineering tolerances and precision measurement.
• Excellent understanding of tooling, workholding, cutting strategies, feeds and speeds.
• The ability to solve challenging machining, programming and manufacturing problems.
• Experience taking technical projects from initial concept through to production.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of manufacturing costs.
• Previous experience leading, mentoring or developing technical teams.

Desirable experience

Experience in any of the following would be beneficial:

• CMM programming or inspection.
• 4- and 5-axis machining.
• Complex or high-value components.
• CNC macro programming.
• CAM simulation and program verification.
• Machine tool commissioning and installation.
• Automation or robotic machining.
• Statistical process control and process capability.
• Precision engineering or subcontract manufacturing.
• A formal engineering qualification such as an HNC, HND or degree.

Equivalent practical experience and a strong record of technical achievement will be equally valued.

About you

You will be technically authoritative but approachable, with the ability to operate at both a strategic and highly detailed level.

You will be:

• Practical, visible and comfortable working on the shop floor.
• Naturally inquisitive and interested in manufacturing technology.
• Commercially focused and improvement-driven.
• A confident and methodical problem-solver.
• Comfortable challenging existing processes constructively.
• Able to make sound technical decisions under pressure.
• An engaging leader who develops and motivates others.

Why consider this opportunity?

This is a genuine opportunity to influence the future technical capability of a well-established engineering business. You will have the authority to improve systems, introduce new technology, develop engineering talent and deliver measurable improvements across productivity, quality and cost.

If you are ready to combine your CNC and manufacturing expertise with senior technical leadership, we would be delighted to hear from you.